World Board

Sarah Govan-Sisk is a member of Girl Guides of Canada and has dedicated her Guiding journey to strengthening governance, empowering volunteers, and creating opportunities for girls and young women. She has served as Board Chair and International Commissioner of Girl Guides of Canada and, for more than a decade, as a WAGGGS Constitutions Coordinator, supporting Member Organisations around the world to strengthen governance, modernise structures, and build resilient organisations.

With extensive experience in governance, finance, fundraising, and strategic leadership, she brings a practical understanding of board decision-making, organisational sustainability, and regional empowerment. Her work across diverse cultural and linguistic contexts has strengthened her ability to build relationships, balance perspectives, and support collaborative solutions that advance both local and global priorities.

Alongside her governance experience, she remains closely connected to the everyday realities of Guiding as a local unit leader, engaging with more than 100 young people each week. This direct connection ensures her leadership remains grounded in the voices, aspirations, and experiences of girls and volunteers.

"I still remember walking into my first Girl Guide meeting unsure if I belonged. The welcome, encouragement, and sense of belonging I found that day shaped my entire Guiding journey. I believe every girl deserves the opportunity to discover her voice, realise her potential, and create positive change. Through strong governance, inclusive leadership, and meaningful youth engagement, we can ensure our Movement continues to empower girls and young women for generations to come."

July 2023 - Present

Fiona is a member of Eclaireuses Eclaireurs de France. As a university lecturer, her work centers on guiding students academically while supporting their personal growth. In her role as a researcher in modern languages, Fiona brings critical thinking, curiosity, and intercultural understanding to every aspect of her work.

From 2020 to 2022, Fiona served as Vice-Chair of the Eclaireuses Eclaireurs de France, where she gained in-depth knowledge in strategic oversight, risk management, human resources, and finance. During this time, she played a key role in staff restructuring and helped establish a new funding model for the organisation.

As an International Commissioner, Fiona built partnerships with over ten guiding and scouting associations around the world. Over her five years in this role, she helped shape an international educational programme focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and co-led a major funding project with the French Development Agency, highlighting the importance of non-formal education in global solidarity. This experience gave Fiona a deep understanding of how the international dimension of guiding and scouting can support global education efforts.

Beyond governance, Fiona has a strong background in education, having served as a leader, camp leader, and co-leader of the Educational Method Commission in her association. As a long-time WAGGGS volunteer, she has played a key role in coordinating volunteers and supporting governance at both regional and global levels.

World Board Member, July 2023 - Present

With a background in Political Communication and Management, Signe excels in navigating complex organisations and fostering teamwork among passionate volunteers. Her degree in organisational psychology supports her work in managing staff and volunteers, where she focuses on skill development and effective onboarding processes.

As a board member, Signe has played a vital role in strengthening finances and implementing sustainable budgeting practices to maintain opportunities for members. In this role she also co-chaired her organisation’s eight-year strategy development, engaging guides at all levels to set a clear direction for the future.

With a background in Political Communication and Management, Signe excels in navigating complex organisations and fostering teamwork among passionate volunteers. Her degree in organisational psychology supports her work in managing staff and volunteers, where she focuses on skill development and effective onboarding processes.

Fatima Al-Faylakawi is a member of the Kuwait Girl Guides Association and has dedicated more than three decades to the Girl Guiding Movement. Throughout her Guiding journey, she has contributed at both national and regional levels, focusing on leadership development, programme quality, and strengthening opportunities for meaningful participation. She has been particularly committed to promoting inclusive decision-making and creating environments where young women can develop their leadership skills and shape the future of the Movement.

In her professional capacity, Fatima serves in an executive leadership role within Kuwait’s national anti-doping framework. Working within a highly regulated international environment, she leads complex governance and operational processes that require independent judgment, policy development, stakeholder coordination, and adherence to global standards. Her experience in safeguarding integrity, ensuring accountability, and overseeing high-stakes systems has provided her with strong expertise in governance, strategic oversight, and organisational effectiveness.

غفران بنحامد، من تونس، هي قائدة شغوفة بدأت رحلتها في الحركة الكشفية في طفولتها وتطورت إلى التزام على مدى طويل بتمكين الفتيات والشابات. نشأت في عائلة كشفية، وتقدمت من مرحلة زهرات إلى الدليلات قبل أن تدخل مجال القيادة، لتصبح أصغر عضو في المجلس الوطني والمجلس الأعلى للكشافة التونسية، حيث ساهمت في الإصلاح القانون الإساسي للجمعية وعززت في مشاركة الشباب في الحكم. مهنيا، هي مهندسة حلول وقائدة فريق في شركة تكنولوجيا دولية، تجمع بين الفطنة التقنية والتفكير التحليلي ومهارات التسهيل القوية. ضمن الجمعية العالمية للمرشدات وفتيات الكشافة، عملت كميسرة في ندوة جولييت لو، وكعضو في فريق المهمة الأساسية، ونائبة رئيس المؤتمر الإقليمي العربي الثاني والعشرين. ومؤخراً، عملت في اللجنة الإقليمية العربية، حيث قادت مبادرات في مجال قيادة الشباب والاتصالات وبناء القدرات الإقليمية، قبل أن يتم انتخابها رئيسة للإقليم العربي.

كارولين من منطقة بيك ، وهي منطقة ريفية في المملكة المتحدة. انضمت إلى حركة المرشدات في سن السابعة كزهرة ولم تنظر إلى الوراء أبدًا. لقد شكلت حركة المرشدات طريقة قيادتها في جميع مجالات حياتها، ومنحتها الثقة، وعرفتها على صداقات مدى الحياة ووجهات نظر جديدة. شغلت عدة مناصب تطوعية في حركة المرشدات البريطانية، بما في ذلك منصب المتطوعة الرئيسية في برنامج غولد، حيث عملت مع المنظمات الأعضاء في جميع أنحاء أوروبا وخارجها لبناء شراكات منصفة وتعلم هادف بين الأقران. على الصعيد المهني، تدير كارولين شركة ضيافة في المملكة المتحدة، وعملت سابقًا في المتاحف، حيث قادت مشاريع إبداعية ودافعت عن الشمولية. تتمتع كارولين بخبرة في الاستراتيجية والاتصالات وقياس الأثر ومشاركته. وهي متحمسة للعمل مع اللجنة بأكملها لتعزيز منطقة تشعر فيها المنظمات الأعضاء بمزيد من الترابط، وتتيح لمزيد من الفتيات والشابات فرصة اكتشاف قدراتهن.

إليزابيث تشاتوا عضوة نشطة في جمعية مرشدات ملاوي منذ عام 2008، حيث بدأت مسيرتها كقائدة شابة. على مر السنين، شغلت العديد من المناصب القيادية، بما في ذلك مفوضة شباب المقاطعة، ومفوضة شباب وطنية، وعضو مجلس إدارة مسؤول عن التدريب الوطني. حاليًا، بصفتها رئيسة إقليم أفريقيا، هي أيضًا مدربة دولية معتمدة من الجمعية العالمية للمرشدات وفتيات الكشافة (WAGGGS)، وهي شغوفة ببناء قدرات القيادة لدى الآخرين من خلال التدريب الجيد. تجد إليزابيث هدفًا عظيمًا في دعم تنمية الشباب وخلق مساحات شاملة للفتيات والشابات. في حياتها الشخصية، تقدر الخدمة والتعلم وإحداث تأثير في كل مساحة تشغلها.

مهنيًا، تعمل مع بنك NBS كمديرة تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات المسؤولة عن أنظمة الخدمات المصرفية الرقمية.

ارينا دي ماتي ديروسا من مار ديل بلاتا، الأرجنتين. وهي عضو في حركة المرشدات منذ أكثر من 28 عامًا، بدءًا من كونها طفلة مستفيدة إلى منصب المفوضة الدولية لجمعية المرشدات الأرجنتينيات. على الصعيد المهني، تدير شركتين وتتعاون مع مؤسسة بولسا دي كوميرسيو في مدينتها، التي تعمل على تعزيز التحالفات متعددة القطاعات من أجل تنمية المجتمع. وهي ملتزمة بالقيادة التعاونية والمساواة الإقليمية وضمان أن تشعر كل فتاة وشابة في المنطقة بأنها مرئية ومدعومة وممكّنة. وهي متحمسة للعمل مع هذا الفريق والمنظمات الأعضاء لتعزيز تأثير الجمعية العالمية معًا.

World Board Member, July 2023 – Present

Monika is a member of Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (ZHP) and joined Guiding when she was 11 years old. She has held many roles within Guiding including unit leader, trainer, regional international adviser, International commissioner and WAGGGS regional volunteer, (MO support and Capacity Building).

As a Biotechnologist quality expert, she is curious, creative and solution-oriented. In her role as a member of the World Board, she aims to utilise her skills in making informed and risk-based decisions, drawing from her experience working in a global organisation.

Being a member of a female unit in a Scout and Guide National Association, Monika recognises the importance of WAGGGS in both girl-only and co-educational settings and plans to continue to share this value with others. Through attending conferences and global events, Monika has developed strong connections with Member Organisations and International Commissioners, which she hopes to strengthen and use to further the development of the Movement.

Lydia Fang is a member of the Girl Scouts of Taiwan. Since attending her first World Conference in 2014 as a national delegate, she has taken on a variety of international leadership roles within the Movement, including Mentor Team Lead for the Juliette Low Seminar, where she supported 55 mentors across 32 countries, and Head of Delegation at NGO CSW69, representing the voice of Girl Scouts of Taiwan on the global stage. Through more than twelve years in Guiding and Scouting, she has championed youth leadership, global citizenship, and meaningful girl participation in decision-making.

In her professional capacity, Lydia serves as Teaching Training and Government Relations Account Manager at Junyi Academy, Taiwan’s leading EdTech NGO. Her work focuses on AI literacy, government relations, and large-scale educator training, helping public institutions translate digital transformation into equitable and practical outcomes. She also brings experience in environmental advocacy from Greenpeace East Asia, alongside project management roles across the civil society and corporate sectors.

Dr Natasha Montesalvo is an active volunteer and leader within the Guiding and Scouting movement, with experience contributing to purpose-driven organisations focused on sustainability, international collaboration, and youth development. Through her work across regions and sectors, she has developed expertise in governance, strategic planning, risk management, and organisational leadership, bringing a strong commitment to evidence-informed and accountable decision making.

In her professional and volunteer roles, she has worked in complex operating environments, supporting organisations to align their mission and values with practical outcomes and long-term sustainability. She has experience in board-level decision making, financial oversight, policy development, and performance monitoring, and is passionate about fostering transparency, inclusion, and effective governance.

"What inspires me most about WAGGGS is its unique ability to combine grassroots community action with global advocacy. Through its Member Organisations, WAGGGS empowers girls and young women with the skills, confidence, and sense of responsibility needed to create positive change. I am particularly motivated by WAGGGS' commitment to leadership development, climate action, and inclusion, and the role that strong governance plays in helping achieve these goals."

World Board Member, July 2023 - Present

Helga is an active member of Tanzania Girl Guide Association, currently volunteering as a Training Commissioner, supporting several WAGGGS Programmes implementation and WAGGGS Leadership Model training. She is also part of WAGGGS Core mission and Volunteering Pool and Stop the Violence Global Facilitator.

As a member of the National Executive Board of my Associationshe has been involved reviewing the budget and financial reports, and providing advice on strategic planning. In this role she works together with other volunteers, guide the staff by providing ideas as well as incorporate new ways shared by experts in the association.

Through WAGGGS Helga has had an opportunity to volunteer and collaborate with people of different cultures and nationalities in different countries. She was a programme volunteer at Our Cabaña in 2017 for five months, and facilitated Juliette Low Seminar in 2019 at Sangam World Centre. She also represented my Chief Commissioner at the African Region Conference in Rwanda and led the delegation in pitching to host the next African Conference (2022) which they won.

World Board Member, July 2023 - Present

An architect by profession, Josephine is a strategic thinker with a passion for driving change and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. Additionally, she also holds skills in program development, financial management and community engagement.

During her 20+ years of experience in Girl Guiding, she has held various leadership positions including, National Young Leaders’ leader, team leader- Plastic Tide Turners Project and currently serving as the Assistant Chief Commissioner, chair of the Membership Sub-Committee of the Executive Committee. As a member of the Technical Advisory Sub-Committee of the national board in Kenya, Josephine managed the development of programmes and initiatives including the new Kenya Girl Guides programme books, launched in 2022.

In her role a member of the World Board Josephine is committed to dedicating her time, energy, skills and knowledge to help WAGGGS achieve its goals and make a positive difference in the lives of girls and young women around the world.

تمتع نيومات بخبرة عقود طويلة في مجال الإرشاد، ترجع جذورها إلى تأسيس جمعية المرشدات المالديفية في عام 1983، عندما تلقت تدريبًا كقائدة بالغة في سن 16 عامًا فقط. بدأت رحلتها كمرشدة في سن 11 عامًا، ومنذ ذلك الحين كانت رائدة نموذجية في اعتماد وتنفيذ الإطار الاستراتيجي، وتطوير البرامج، وبناء القدرات داخل منظمتها العضو. على مر السنين، شغلت العديد من المناصب القيادية في جمعية مرشدات جزر المالديف، بما في ذلك أمينة وطنية، ونائبة رئيسة المفوضة العامة ، وبلغت ذروتها في منصبها كمفوضة عامة من 2015 إلى 2025. وبالنظر إلى المستقبل، تلتزم نيومات بشدة بدعم المنظمات الأعضاء في تبني أفضل الممارسات، وتعزيز التعاون الهادف، وتهيئة بيئة شاملة ومتنوعة وداعمة يشعر فيها كل من المتطوعين والأعضاء بالتقدير والتواصل.

World Board Member, July 2023 - Present

At the age of nine, Sharrada started her journey as a brownie. Through guiding, she began her first advocacy in setting up a community library to eradicate social isolation, then I led national campaigns pushing for change at national, regional and international levels on wellbeing, discussing policies surrounding child marriage with local politicians, lobbying for youth representation in national boards and finally setting up the first youth led NGO guided by professionals in Malaysia, Mind Matters Network all while completing a double degree in medicine and medical sciences.

Further leveraging her experience as a founder and director of a national youth led NGO, She believes as a member of the World Board I will be able to engage with stakeholders to further garner strategic partnerships for the organisation, provide a fresh perspective as a young women in governance and maximise the potential of using social media as a tool for change.

While the years of experience you receive from the nominees today may be equivalent to her willing to learn young woman in the room representing the voices of hundreds and thousands of girls hoping to be given a seat at the table so that many other young women can see that they too have a place in governance. After all, decisions about us should most definitely include us. It would be an honour to be a part of an organisation that empowers girls and gives them the confidence that the world wants to hear what they have to say despite their age, ethnicity and background--there is an inclusive safe space for all.

Tricia Tilford is a member of Girl Scouts of the USA and brings extensive experience in governance, finance, and organisational leadership. She currently serves as a member of the WAGGGS Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and as Chair of the WAGGGS Investment Subcommittee, providing strategic oversight and insight into the financial opportunities and challenges facing the Movement. She has also shared her governance expertise internationally, leading the design and delivery of the WAGGGS Asia Pacific Governance Workshop in 2024, supporting Member Organisations to strengthen governance practices and develop practical improvement plans.

Professionally, Ricia is a Certified Public Accountant with financial and management experience gained through a global accounting firm and a multinational corporation. She served for six years as Board Chair of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, a member organisation serving 48,000 members. During her service, she successfully guided the organisation through multiple CEO transitions and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening her skills in governance, strategic leadership, and organisational resilience.

Dr Hina Velji is a member of the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement and has dedicated nearly two decades to expanding opportunities for girls and young women through leadership, programme development, and volunteer engagement. From 2015 to 2023, she served as National Guides Commissioner for Ismaili Guides in Pakistan, providing leadership to a programme serving approximately 30,000 girls nationwide. Under her leadership, membership grew significantly while maintaining high programme standards and national recognition. She has also led international youth engagement initiatives through Global Encounters camps and internships, promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration among young people from diverse backgrounds.

Professionally and as a volunteer leader, Dr Velji brings extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, and youth development. She has served as Honorary Secretary of the Aga Khan Youth & Sports Board, contributing to the planning and oversight of national initiatives across sports, arts, and leadership development. Her leadership experience includes building sustainable volunteer systems, supporting organisational growth, and ensuring inclusive participation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when she led national efforts to maintain Guiding engagement through both virtual and offline programmes.

"I still remember walking into my first Girl Guide meeting unsure if I belonged. The welcome, encouragement, and sense of belonging I found there shaped my lifelong commitment to Guiding. In a world facing increasing uncertainty, I believe WAGGGS has a vital role in empowering girls and young women to lead with courage, compassion, and purpose. Through strong governance, inclusive leadership, and meaningful youth engagement, we can ensure our Movement continues to thrive and create positive change for generations to come."